The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 28, 2020
Filed:
Aug. 14, 2017
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Till Hoffmann, Osnabrueck, DE;
Andreas Schubert, Ostercappeln, DE;
Frank Hinken, Rheine, DE;
Hartmut Andreas Scholte-Wassink, Lage, DE;
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
A method for protecting personnel working in a wind turbine nacelle or hub includes monitoring a nacelle roof hatch and a hub access hatch, each hatch having a switch configured therewith. When at least one of the hatches is detected as opened, a control system detects if a rotor lock has been engaged. If the rotor lock has not been engaged, the control system triggers a rotor brake to stop rotor and drivetrain component rotational movement and actuates a first control lockout between the respective switch configured with the open hatch and the rotor brake. The control system also initiates a control lockout that prevents release of the rotor brake until the switch indicates that the open hatch has been closed and the first control lockout has been reset.